The Future of the Built Environment is 3D Printed

The future of the built environment is 3D printed, as California’s Bot Laboratory proves with this groundbreaking piece. Showcased at the Maker Fair 2014, the m_Wall was printed in only two pieces and stands over 6 feet 4 inches tall. Printed with the Euclid Robot 3D printer using both black and clear ABS plastic, the m_Wall is extremely strong with a single pass print thickness of over 1/4 inch (6.35mm). Architectural pieces need to be created with less expensive methods than “traditional” 3D printing, and the m_Wall proves that doing so is economically feasible by using inexpensive plastic pellets and high-speed production.

A custom Grasshopper 3D script created by Zachary Schoch was used to design, extrude, and print the piece, and the process allows any designer to design not only a piece’s form, but also its creation. Layers can be printed at fun angles, or a mix of curved and non-planar layers can be used. The Bot Laboratory is now accepting custom printing inquiries.